It is time to learn Chinese

[Raphael]

1. Music Industry : Due to the complete Korean dominance in the music industry in East Asia, you need to speak Korean to be an idol singer because all the back staff, such as dance trainers, vocal trainers, song writers, clothing designers, are Korean. This is why there has been an explosion of Korean speakers in Japan and Taiwan's music industry, and China's going through a similar phase.

2 Employment with CIA : Korean is a mission critical language at CIA and the US military which run language schools.

CIA visits Eastern to explain career opportunities to students - News - The Eastern Progress - Eastern Kentucky University



3. Employment with PLA and Chinese intelligence : Likewise Korean is a mission critical language for the PLA and Chinese intelligence services, as intelligence operations in North Korea and the ability of PLA officers to speak to North Korean counter parts in the event of a "war" is critical for China's national interest. For example, Zhang Dejiang, the current vice premier, was appointed to his position because he speaks fluent Korean and CCP needed a Korean speaker because North Korean issue is of the highest importance to the CCP leadership.

Generally, Chinese government sends state-sponsored students to North Korea, while private-funded language students who hope to seek employment with Korean companies come to the ROK.

FAU was being hyperbolic when he said there was 'no point' in learning Korean, but your examples hardly supplant your case. Learning Korean to cash in on the halyu fad? Really? That's even more short-sighted than all the people learning Japanese in the 80's for business. The need for Korean in national intelligence-gathering institutions seems pretty trivial as well - entirely relegated to the academic/government spheres.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

1. Music Industry : Due to the complete Korean dominance in the music industry in East Asia, you need to speak Korean to be an idol singer because all the back staff, such as dance trainers, vocal trainers, song writers, clothing designers, are Korean. This is why there has been an explosion of Korean speakers in Japan and Taiwan's music industry, and China's going through a similar phase.

2 Employment with CIA : Korean is a mission critical language at CIA and the US military which run language schools.

CIA visits Eastern to explain career opportunities to students - News - The Eastern Progress - Eastern Kentucky University



3. Employment with PLA and Chinese intelligence : Likewise Korean is a mission critical language for the PLA and Chinese intelligence services, as intelligence operations in North Korea and the ability of PLA officers to speak to North Korean counter parts in the event of a "war" is critical for China's national interest. For example, Zhang Dejiang, the current vice premier, was appointed to his position because he speaks fluent Korean and CCP needed a Korean speaker because North Korean issue is of the highest importance to the CCP leadership.

Generally, Chinese government sends state-sponsored students to North Korea, while private-funded language students who hope to seek employment with Korean companies come to the ROK.

Wrong. Its the other way around. There's no "S.H.E. K" or "F4 K" or "Jason Zhang K" but there is "Super Junior M". Don't need to say more